Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Looking for a continuous beeper device (loud!) (self.Blind)
submitted by Ladsholiday2k17
Hi! We have a rower on our team who has some mild visual impairment. He is able to row a boat by himself, but sometimes the lighting conditions make it hard for him to see the lane markers and he drifts into the way of other boats - this is extremely dangerous for him and others.
My idea is to get a loud continuously beeping or chirping device that we can attach to his boat to provide warning to the other boats that he is nearby. The other way to use it will be to place it on a different boat and have him follow the sound in order to maintain a straight course.
Either way - does a device like this exist? Any suggestions for where to buy it (in Canada)? Any other suggestions for helping someone in his situation keep himself safe when he really wants to continue rowing solo boats?
My idea is to get a loud continuously beeping or chirping device that we can attach to his boat to provide warning to the other boats that he is nearby. The other way to use it will be to place it on a different boat and have him follow the sound in order to maintain a straight course.
Either way - does a device like this exist? Any suggestions for where to buy it (in Canada)? Any other suggestions for helping someone in his situation keep himself safe when he really wants to continue rowing solo boats?
Central_Control 3 points 1y ago
If anyone on the boat in front has lungs, you could use a whistle. I'd also use a "two short whistles, repeating" for him to go right, "one short whistle, repeating" to go left, and "one long whistle, repeating" to stop, even "no whistle" when he's on course and speed. Or whatever that is better that you could come up with. It's likely that a rowing team does have access to loud whistles. You can 3D print some super loud ones, if anyone has access to that, but they may not want a super loud one.
Also, ask the blind person. Ask them what they think would work best. Offer your insight and plans and see if that's acceptable to them, or if they want any changes. You always have to be sure that you're communicating properly with blind people and asking for their input on things that affect them.
Blind rowing? Neat!
Also, ask the blind person. Ask them what they think would work best. Offer your insight and plans and see if that's acceptable to them, or if they want any changes. You always have to be sure that you're communicating properly with blind people and asking for their input on things that affect them.
Blind rowing? Neat!
Ladsholiday2k17 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Thanks so much! The whistle is a great idea, my mind jumped straight to high tech when the whistle already exists!
I'll definitely be talking to him about what his preferences and ideas are - I am meeting up with him next week so wanted to bring a couple ideas to the table as well but will of course defer to what makes him the most confident.
Also if you're interested in blind rowing - there is a category in the paralympics that allows visual impairment - it's a mixed gender boat with 4 rowers and a coxswain. Up to 2 rowers out of the 4 can be visually impaired, the others must have a physical classification. Great Britain has absolutely dominated this category for about 12 years but other countries are starting to field very strong crews too!
I'll definitely be talking to him about what his preferences and ideas are - I am meeting up with him next week so wanted to bring a couple ideas to the table as well but will of course defer to what makes him the most confident.
Also if you're interested in blind rowing - there is a category in the paralympics that allows visual impairment - it's a mixed gender boat with 4 rowers and a coxswain. Up to 2 rowers out of the 4 can be visually impaired, the others must have a physical classification. Great Britain has absolutely dominated this category for about 12 years but other countries are starting to field very strong crews too!
Central_Control 1 points 1y ago
That's interesting, I'll have to look into if there is anything that I can get to locally. I'm glad that might help!
Ladsholiday2k17 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Oh there should definitely be some options for you locally (not sure what country you're in but if you're in Canada I can provide a couple club names potentially). And I'm happy to answer any questions you have about rowing in general!
There is a Canadian rower (now rowing for the national team) who rowed with his varsity university able bodied team while having vision loss - basically you just row in the very front of the crew lineup and the other rowers can follow you. So when you look at local clubs they don't need to specifically have a para rowing program.
Here is an article about him https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/rower-envisions-spot-on-national-team/
There is a Canadian rower (now rowing for the national team) who rowed with his varsity university able bodied team while having vision loss - basically you just row in the very front of the crew lineup and the other rowers can follow you. So when you look at local clubs they don't need to specifically have a para rowing program.
Here is an article about him https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/rower-envisions-spot-on-national-team/
SiriuslyGranger 2 points 11m ago
The idea with the music and a loud bluetooth speaker is one I’ve seen many times put it in the boat in front of him.
DannyMTZ956 1 points 1y ago
How about the system used for beep base ball. The sound that the bases do is easy to follow at a distance.
KillerLag 1 points 1y ago
There are such things (they were put into beeper balls), but are kind of expensive. It might be easier/cheaper to put on some music on a phone (maybe with a Bluetooth speaker) and crank it up a bit. Or have continuous running beep/tone instead of music on the phone.
Ladsholiday2k17 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Oh that's a great point. We could put his phone in a waterproof bag and just tape it in with the volume high. Thank you!
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